As election propaganda ensues, I'm reminded of the Rudyard Kipling poem If. An example of Victorian-era stoicism, If offers relevant and timeless advice. It encourages us to be open-minded, courageous, perseverant, and kind. Though some might interpret this poem as a dark-ages, stiff upper lip treatise, I find it a mantra against victimization by our "monkey mind." According to Buddhist principles, monkey mind refers to being unsettled, restless, or confused. It can also be used to describe how we become easily distracted ... "Oh! Shiny!" Social media feeds monkey mind with rapid responses (likes) and instant gratification.

The imagery in my painting Beware the Company You Keep portrays the danger of falling victim to the distractions of our monkey mind. Being easily distracted, we are open to the influence of the loudest voice or the shiniest image. In our distraction, we relinquish our personal power. The strategies in Kipling's If offer an inoculation against the perils depicted in my painting and the election year onslaught.

You can read Kipling’s poem HERE.